Pat Cadigan GoH of Finncon 2010

A piece of Finncon news I’m very happy about: Pat Cadigan will be a Guest of Honor of Finncon 2010! Cadigan has been writing science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, etc. for 30 years, and is also active in promoting science fiction and fandom, and otherwise doing good in the world. A worthy GoH in other words, plus a wonderful speaker.

The Finncon 2010 GoH lineup is looking very good: Ellen Kushner, Pat Cadigan, Sari Peltoniemi, and Liisa Rantalaiho.

DaimonCon in October

The FSFWA Tampere section will organize DaimonCon, a minicon about the graven images in sf, in October. There will be a introduction about “hard sf and religion” by Markku Soikkeli, discussion about the topic, and a movie, a “classic of messianic science fiction,” Silent Running. An issue of the Kosmospenaali fanzine will also be published at the event (if you want to contribute, contact Soikkeli).

Saturday, October 10, 4 PM to 9 PM
Katajikonkatu 1 H 31
More info from Markku Soikkeli

PS If you are planning on going to Tampere to see the Ender’s Game play, the Spektre folks are going on the previous night (October 9), so this would be a good opportunity to do both on the same trip. Contact Päivi Itäpuro for details.

Pub Meeting on Thursday

The monthly Turku pub meeting is on Thursday, in Kultainen hirvi, from 6 PM onwards. Talk about interesting books & movies, other sf phenomenons, and other interesting stuff, accompanied by a couple of beers. Welcome!

Linkage: Future of FSFWA

There’s an interesting discussion going on on the FSFWA forum about the future of the society, how to find new people to do the work that needs doing, and what the most important functions of the association that need preserving are. If you have an opinion on the matter (or just want to hear what others say), head over there.

Going to Swecon

Imagicon 2, this year’s Swecon (foreign GoHs Liz Williams and Graham Joyce), is held October 16–18 in Stockholm. A bunch of us Finns are going there, and our agent Ben Roimola has arranged a group trip with accommodation.

We’re leaving from Turku by ferry Thursday (Oct 15) evening and return to Turku on the Sunday evening ferry. The cost of the trip including a cabin on the ferries plus two nights at a hotel near the con site will be about 119 € (depending a bit on how many people will attend).

If you’re interested in joining us for a fun trip to a fun convention, contact Ben for details! (And remember to pay the convention membership fee before the 1st of September and you’ll save 5 €).

Open House at Terrakoti

Terrakoti, the club house of the Turku sf societies, has an open house next week (coinciding with the new student events of the university). Aimed primarily at new students, but others are also welcome to go see what the societies are doing and get to know the people there.

From Monday August 31 to Wednesday September 2, Yo-talo A (2nd floor).

Story Night in Lempäälä

Tonight in the Villa Hakkari summer theater: a Story Night filled with “animal tales”. One of the speakers is Finncon 2010 GoH Sari Peltoniemi.